Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens and Chantal Sutherland-Kruse, a two-time Sovereign Award winner in her native Canada, take America’s Best Racing’s readers inside the jockeys’ room in 2014. Stevens and Sutherland-Kruse will provide answers to all sorts of questions such as how jockeys get paid, what goes on between races, whom they admire and what type of music and fashion style they favor.

In this edition of Inside the Jockeys’ Room we learn a little more about Stevens, whose comeback in 2013 was arguably the biggest story in horse racing and featured wins in the Preakness Stakes with Oxbow and Breeders’ Cup Classic with Mucho Macho Man.

Did you have to go to a special school or take training to become a jockey?  Who taught you how to become a successful jockey?   

STEVENS: I didn’t go to a special school because I had my dad, mom and older brother all in the horse world. My brother, Scott Stevens, taught me everything about riding and becoming a jockey. There is now a jockey school run by ex-jockey Chris McCarron, but when I was growing up there was not a school.

What app do you use the most?    

STEVENS: Horse Races NOW. It is a great App. Trainer Kenny McPeek started it and it is great.

Ideal playlist on my iPod would have these five songs:

STEVENS: I’m not sure which songs but it would have country music, Johnny Cash, CCR [Creedence Clearwater Revival], and Jackson Browne.

STEVENS WITH WIFE, ANGIE AND DAUGHTER MADDIE

Fashion trend that you hope never to see again.          

STEVENS: I’ve seen 50 years of fashion trends and I can’t think of one. I’m sure there are plenty but I can’t think of one.

My look can best be described as … ?      

STEVENS: Retro

Who is the funniest jockey?           

STEVENS: Joe Talamo, hands down.

JOCKS’ ROOM JOKESTER

Aside from a home or car, what’s the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought?   

STEVENS: A divorce.

People tell me I remind them of … ?        

STEVENS: Paul Newman, old blue eyes.

If I had one word to share with the Millennial generation, it would be … ?

STEVENS: Respect your elders. I know that is three words but you get the idea.

The best advice I ever got was from … ?  

STEVENS: My big brother. He was and is always giving me great advice.

There is nothing in the universe more powerful than … ?       

STEVENS: God

STEVENS WITH HALL OF FAME TRAINER D. WAYNE LUKAS AFTER 2013 PREAKNESS

– See more at: http://www.americasbestracing.net/en/the-latest/blogs/2014/02/7/inside-the-jockeys-room-with-gary-stevens/#sthash.blNoOaGx.dpuf